Defying the college authorities' objection, activists of the ABVP, the student wing of the BJP, on Thursday erected a students’ union flagpole on the campus of the Government Brennen College, Thalassery.
On Wednesday, ABVP activists had erected a flag post on the campus as part of a “bali daan” ceremony for which the acting Pincipal, K. Falgunan, had reportedly given temporary permission. The post was set up close to that of the Students Federation of India and flag was raised on the post.
After the ABVP activists refused to remove the flag post, the Principal had removed the flag, triggering protests by Sangh Parivar activists who later marched on his home and held a demonstration.
Meanwhile, the Principal told a TV channel that he had received death threats from ABVP activists. He said he had objected to erecting the flag pole in view of court orders against student union activities on campuses.
BJP warns of protest
BJP leader P.K. Krishnadas, at a news conference in Kannur, alleged that the college authorities were denying the ABVP members the right to carry out their organisation's work.
He alleged that the BJP and associated organisations would, in the coming days, step up its protest against the Principal’s action.
BJP State president P.S.Sreedharan Pillai accused the Principal of acting in a partisan manner.
Mr.Pillai, in his Facebook post on Thursday, said that the Principal should not have permitted any organisation to put up its flags. But he removed the flagpole of the ABVP without touching that of the SFI.
“Everyone knows that the college teachers’ union affiliated to the CPI(M) was supporting the ‘goonda’ activities of the SFI. Such teachers would act in a discriminatory manner to members of rival student organisations and also harass them,” he said.
The Principal should not show his political affiliation on the college campus.
“If he is too keen on demonstrating it, he should quit and become the local committee secretary of the party, so that the student organisations would be able to give him a political reply,” Mr. Pillai said.
Those teachers who used to tacitly support the CPI(M) had now come into the public glare.
This would help the public gather a clear idea about such teachers. As in Tripura and West Bengal, the people of Kerala would reject such fascist activities, he said.